Rotary amusement device



Dec. 8, 1925 J. A. FISHER ROTARY AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed June 11. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 8, 1925.

` J. A. FISHER ROTARY AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed June 11. 1924 2 'sheets-.sheet 2 Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNTED STATES rattan PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. FISHER, OF SANDUSKY, OI-IO.

ROTARY AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application led June 11,

' nient Device, of which the following is a specification.

Generally speaking my invention comprises a continuous track revolving on a horizontal anis and having mounted in the interior thereof a travelling element such as a passenger car, or a plurality o f cars preferably connected together as a train.

`Wheii the track is at rest, the travelling element occupies the low point of the former, but when the track is in motion friction or the like tends to cause the travelling element to travel with the track and ascend the arcuate path of its movement, which tendency is combated and eventually overcome by tlie force of gravity, working against the force of friction, and the car returns down the slope passing the low point, and its momentum carries it a short distance up the opposite slope until the forces of gravity and friction, now working in the same direction, reverse its movement.

It is thus evident that the travelling element will oscillate back and forth, with the low point of the track as a center, its travel in the direction of the tracks movement being the greater.

Since in the presence of safe speeds this oscillation on a concentric. track might not be sufficient or varied enough to be attractive to patrons, l provide means to intermittently accentuate and vary the travel and speed of the element with the 'revolving track. Such means may take various forms. Thus, for instance, I may provide the track with one or more eccentric or inwardly convexed portions which would tend. to increase the friction and resistance to gravity between the travelling element and,v the track, Vand therefore tend to carry the Vcar up a greater distance with 'the track before gravity would be able to overcome the friction and resistance, and reverse t-he move-v ment of the car. Again, I may provide clutch or other engaging means carried by the track and by tlie travelling element and intermittently interengaged to cause the element to travel with the track for an appreeiable distance. A convenient character of means is a friction clutch device such, as

1924-. Serial' No. 719,296.

shown in the drawings, a shoe mounted on the track and adapted to engage a resilient compressive finger or member carried by the travelling element.

By providing the track with an apertured enclosure, an effect may be obtained which will produce the illusion of much greater speed and travel of the car thanis actually the fact.

Other novel featuresl of construction and also of arrangement of partswill appear from the following description.

ln the accompanying drawings, which are,-

however` merely intended to illustrate practical enioodiinent of the principles offiny invention without limiting the scope of the same to the construction shown, Fig. l is v a perspective of a preferred embodiment 4of my invention, the passenger train being.

shown at the low point of the continuous track, the position assumed whenv the track is at rest; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation showing the train engaging the eccentric portion of the track; Fig.k 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the trainbeing carried up with the eccentric portion of the track; Fig. 4 is a similar View showing a two-'car train being carried up by means of a spring clutch mechanism, which may be used as a substitute for the eccentric portionjof the track or as anV auxiliary thereto; Fig. 5 is an enlarged, broken cross sectional view of the track structure, and Fig. 6 is a detail showing the preferred manner of coupling together the carsto form a train.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings. f

A represents a pair of stands converging upwardly and supporting the bearings .l in which are journaled the ends yof the anle 2 on which is mounted .the hub AB of the track structure. Said track structure may be of any convenient construction providing` a continuous, interior track of any suitable character. ment, I have shown theftrack vstructure 'as a largel wheel C mounted -'oii the li'uhB. 3'

centric the spokes 3 are of even length, but, l

when as shown in Figs l, 2 and 3, the track is characterized by one or more eccentric portions the spokes 3 are of irregular length.l

The sockes of each setvhave their outer ends i 1 1 connected together oytne perimetral Thus, as aconvenient embodifl coy er rin'i bars al, preferably of angle shape, as shoivn in Fig. 5, thus bracing the spokes in their proper radial positions. The corresponding spokes or' the two sets are connected t0- gether at their outer ends by the transverse beams or sleepers 5, preferably I-beams, which are secured to the perimetral bars i Aand to the spokes.

The track supported on the track structure and rotating therewith may be of any suitable. character to support a travelling element thereon Which is caused to travel because of the movement of the track. Thus, as a convenient form of track l have shoivn a two-rail track formed ot the parallel, continuous rails which are mounted on the inner surfaces of the sleepers 5, thus providing the track structure with a continuous trackivay which rotates with the'track structure.

Spaced inside of the continuous track at a` suiicient distance to provide the necessary head room the corresponding spokes of the two sets of spokes are connected together by the tie-rods 7, the series of ticrods being disposed, relative to the axis of the track structure, as is the track, either concentric 0r eccentric thereto.

S is a Strip or length oit canvas inserted alternately inside and outside of the rods 7, as shown in Fig. 2, thus forming What may be termed the inner Wall o' a continuous screen or inclosure which is completed by the outer canvas Wall 9, and by the front and rear side Walls 10 and 11 which may also be or canvas. The adjacent edges of the Walls may overlap and be laced or othervvise connected together, as indicated at 12. li desired, the inner Wall 8 or the outer Wall 9, or both may be omitted, but I prefer to retain the side Walls 10 and 11, as they play an important part in rendering the amusement device attractive to patrons.`

The track structure is preferably braced, as by struts 13 connecting together adjacent spokes of the same sets intermediate or their ends.

The track may be rotated by any convenient means. Thus, in the Way of illustration, l have shown a sheave 14,1nounted concentrically on the track structure, and connected by a cable belt 15 with a pulley 16 on the shaft of a motor D. In the drawings the track is assumed to be rotated clockwise.

A travelling element is mounted on the track, and the same is preferably, but not necessarily, idle or unprovided with propelling means other than the motion ot the tracks. This travelling` element may take any Jform suitable for movement on a track. Tn thecase of a railed track the element may, as shown, be provided With Wheels which engage the track. The travelling element may be composed ot one unit, or tivo or more units suitably coupled together to form a train.

Thus in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 T have shown thek travelling element comprised of three passenger-carrying cars E', E2 and E3 connected together in tandem, the center car E2 being supported by the legs 17 Whose lower ends are provided with flanged Wheels 18 which engage the rails 6. The inner ends of the front and rear cars are supported at substantially the same distance from the rails as is the center car, as by being hingedly connected thereto, but their outer ends lare supported at less height from the rails as by means of shorter legs 17:L or smaller Wheels 182er both as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

ln Fig. l l show a tivo-car travelling element or train, composed oi2 the front car E4 supported at its rear by the long legs 17 and large Wheels 18, and at its front end by the short legs 17n and the small Wheels 18a. The front end of the rear car E5 is coupled to and supported by the rear end of the front car, and its rear end is supported by the short legs 17 f* and the small Wheels 18a.

l/Vhere the travelling element is composed ot' two or more cars or other units, the same are coupled together in such a manner that the travelling elenent is given the necessary iieXibility to readily conicrm to the track, but Without such lateral swinging or siverving as might be dangerous to passengers occupying the cars or cause derailincnt. Thus, as illustrated in enlarged detail in Fio. G, the cars may be provided with pieced lugs 19 and 20 Which may interlock as shown and through which extends the pivot rod 21. Thus T have shown the cars capable of hinged relative movement on a horizontal axis.

The advantage of supporting the center portion of a travelling element comprised of two or more units at a greater distance than the iront and rear ends thereof Will be later explained.

lt is evident that when the track is at rest the 'travelling element, either a car or a plurality of cars connected in a train, Will stand on the loW portion oic the track. `When the track is revolving, the travelling element will tend to follow up the slope or the track in the direction of revolution, owing to the friction or the Wheels on the rails, and the travelling element Will thus more in a clockwise direction until the forces of gravitation overcome the forces or" friction and resistance, and cause the car to reverse its movement and to run down 'he slope counterclockivise, the momentum carrying the travelling element past the, low point and causing it to travel up the opposite slope until the forces ot gravitation and ot triction, noW Working in the same direction.

can reverse its travel. It is thus evident that the car will tend to oscillate back and i''orth with the low point of the track as a center, the travel clockwise being slightly greater than the counterclockwise travel owing to the tact that in the clockwise travel the force of friction is working against the torce of gravity, while in the counterclockwise travel both said forces are working in the same direction.

`Where the track is provided with eccentric or inwardly curved portions as shown at F in Figs. l, 2 and 3, when such eccentric portion reaches the travelling element, the friction and resistance to gravitation greatly increased, so that the travelling element will follow the track in a clockwise direction, as shownin Fig. 3, vin an accentuated degree and for a greater distance, before the torce of friction and resistance is again overcome by the torce of gravitation and the car reverses its travel. rIhus by providing the track with one or more eccentric portions, the travelling lelement will have'imparted to it at intervals a farther travel and an accentuated greater speed, with intervening periods of relative idleness, the oscillatory movement of the car being thus varied in distance travelled and in speed of motion.

As a substitute for'an eccentric track I may provide means wherebyat proper intervals the car will be temporarily connected or clutched to the track, so that it will follow the same in its travel, thereby obtaining the same effect as above described. Any one of a number of numerous types of temporary connection may be provided. Thus in Fig. 4c I have shown the track provided intermediate of its rails with a. shoe 22 which will be engaged once in every revolution of the track by a spring contact finger 23 depending from the travelling element. lVhen the shoe passes under the travelling element, it will engage and compress the spring'nger, producing sufiicient friction tocause the travelling element to travel with the track until the torce ot gravitation overcomes the frictional engagement and causes the travel ot the car to be reversed. The strength of the spring finger and the weight of the travelling element thus determine the eX- tent of the travel of the element with the track. It desired, as shown in Fig. 1, the track may be provided both with one or more eccentric portions F and also with friction shoes 22; or a friction shoe may be associated with an eccentric portion to increase the travel of the car.

It will be noted that When the travelling element, which is comprised. of two or more cars or other units is in its position of rest, as when the amusement device is stopped 'for loading or unloading passengers, the curvature ot the track will cause the 'liront shown in Fig. 1.

and rear wheels of the travelling element to be raised` and the floors of the two or more cars will be substantially horizontal, as This is due to the factthat the ends of the train ot cars are supported a shorter distance from the rails than the center, thus compensating for the track curvature. If the cars were supported at the same distance from the track at both ends, the train would conformto the curvature of the track and it would be awkward and even dangerous for the passengers to embark or disembark. Furthermore, this manner of supporting'the train or plurality ot connected cars permits the cars to accommodate themselves to the conformation of the track in travelling therewith or returning'in the opposite direction without too much tilting into dangerously inclined positions. It is evident that iftwo or more coupled cars were supported at their inner and outerends the same distance from the rails, the end cars would at times Vbe dangerously tilted unless the oscillations Vwere s o mild as to be uninteresting and unexciting. The use of two or more cars or other units coupled together not only increases the carrying capacity ontl the amusement device but adds to its attractiveness and enjoyment.

The device is primarily intended tor passonger-carrying purposes, but it may of course be manufactured in diminutive sizes as a toy.v

' The canvas front wall 10 is provided with an opening or doorway 24 so that the track may be brought to rest with the doorway at itslow point to provide access for loading and unloading the car. At other points around the track, such as at the eccentric portion thereof, I may provide visual openings "25 through which the passengers may look out and the spectators may 'look in, greatly increasing the illusion ot travel.v

What I desire to claim is 1. In an amusement device, the combination of a structure mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis and provided with a vertically disposed and continuous internal track revolving with the structure, a travelling element mounted on `said track and tending normally to occupy the low point of the Ylatter, the friction between the track and the travelling element imparting an oscillation to the latter in relation to the low point of the former, and interengaging clutch meclianism carried by the track and the car whereby the track intermittently picks up the travelling elementk and carries it upwardly for a limited distance and a. variable oscillation of the element is thus obtained.

f 2. In an amusement device, the combination of a structure mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis and provided with a vertically disposed and continuous internal tra-ck revolving with the structure, a travelling element mounted on said track and tending normally to occupy the lovvpoint of the latter, the friction between the track and the travelling element imparting an oscillation tol the latter in relation to the low point of the former, and interengaging mea-ns carried by the track and the element whereby the track at intervals picks up the element and carries it With it a limited distance and the oscillation of the element is thereby increased.

3. ln an amusement device,vthe combination of a structure mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis and provided With a vertically disposed and continuous internal track revolving With the structure, a travel.- ling element mounted on said track and tending to normally occupy the low point of the latter, and an enclosure for said track travelling with the track and provided With an aperture for illusion purposes as described.

il. In an amusement device, the combination of a structure mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis and provided With a vertically disposed and continuous internal track revolving with the structure, a travelling element mounted on said track and tending normally to occupy the low point of the latter, means for imparting a variable oscillation to said element relative to the lovv point of the track, and an enclosure for said track provided With an aperture for illusion purposes as described.

5. ln an amusement device, the combination of a structure mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis and provided With a vertically disposed and continuous internal track revolving with the structure, a travelling element mounted on said track and tending normally to occupy the loW point of the latter, means for imparting a variable oscillation to said'element relative to the loW point of the track, and an enclosure for said track provided With an aperture and travelling With the track for illusion purposes as described. V Y

6. In an amusement device, the combination of structure mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis and provided With a vertically disposed and continuous track revolving with said structure and disposed solely in a vertical plane, and a travelling element mounted on said track, said element being comprised of a plurality of cars each provided With a passenger carrying platform and said cars being pivetally coupled together so that the traveling element is flexible solely in a vertical plane.

7. In an amusement device, the combina tion of a structure mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis and provided with a vertically disposed and continuous track revolving With said structure and disposed solely in a vertical plane, a. travelling element mounted on said track, said element being comprised of a plurality of cars each provided with a passenger carrying-platform and said cars being pivotally coupled together so that the traveling element is flexible solely in a vertical plane., and means for providing a variable oscillatory movement of said element on said track.

8. ln an amusement device, the combination of a structure mounted to revolve on a horizontal axis and provided With a ver tically disposed and continuous internal track revolving with the structure, and a travelling element mounted on the track and comprised of three cars coupled together in a train in such a manner that the connections are flexible at substantially right angles to the plane of movement, the central car being supported above'the track at a higherV elevation than the outer ends of the end cars.

9. For use with a continuous, internal track revolving on a horizontal axis, a train of travelling elements comprised of three cars'coupled together in tandem and in such a manner that the train may conform itself to the arcuate nature of the track, the end cars having their innerv ends supported from the central carvwhile their outer ends are supported from the track and the central car being supported a greater distance above the track than are the Aouter ends of the end cars.

10. For use With a continuous, internal track revolving on a horizontal axis, a train composed of a plurality of travelling elements coupled together in tandem and in such a manner that the train may conform itself to the arcuate nature of the track, the center of the train being supported a greater distance from the thereof.

ll. For use with a continuous internal track revolving on a horizontal airis, a train composed of a plurality of travelling elements coupled together in such a manner that the train is flexible to conform to the arcuate nature of the track, the center of the train being supported at a greater distance from the track than the ends thereof.

l2. ln an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable about a horizontal axis and disposed solely in a vertical plane, a traveling element mounted on said track and occupying a low portion of the same when said track is at rest, whereby when said track is in motion said traveling element has imparted thereto a limited oscillatory movement, and interengaging members carried by the track and the traveling element whereby the moving track intermittently carries said traveling element along with it to an Vincreased extent thereby magnifying the oscillatory movement of said element.

track than the endsv lli) 13. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable about a horizontal axis and disposed solely in a vertical plane, a traveling element mounted on said track and occupying a low portion of the same when said track is at rest, whereby when said track is in motion said traveling element has imparted thereto a limited oscillatory movement, and clutch means adapted to temporarily connect the traveling element to the track at intervals whereby the oscillatory movement of the travel-V ing element is intermittently magnified.

14. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable about a horizontal axis and disposed solely in a vertical plane, and a traveling element mounted on said track and occupying the low portion of the same when said track is at rest, said element being comprised of a plurality of units each provided with a passenger carrying platform and said units being flexibly coupled together in tandem in such manner as to have substantial relative movement in a vertical plane-only.

15. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal trackrotatable about a horizontal axis and disposed solelyin a vertical plane, and a traveling element mounted on said track and occupying the low portion of the same when said track is at rest, said element being comprised of a plurality of units each provided with a passenger carrying platform and sai-d units being flexibly coupled together so as to have relative movement on horizontal axes only.

16. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable on a horizontal axis and disposed solely in a vertical plane, a traveling element mounted on said track and occupying the low portion thereof when said track is at rest, said element being comprised of a plurality of units coupled together in tandem in such manner as to have relative movement in a vertical plane only, whereby the movement of the track results in a limited oscillatory movement of the traveling element, and means whereby said oscillatory movement is intermittently magnified.

17. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable on a horizontal axis and disposed solely in a vertical plane, a traveling element mounted on said track and occupying the low portion thereof when said track is atrest, said element being comprised of a plurality of units each having a passenger carrying platform and said units being coupled together in tandem in such manner as to have relative movement in a Y vertical plane only whereby the movement of the track results in a limited oscillatory movement of the traveling element, Vand means whereby the friction between the moving trackand the traveling element is increased at intervals whereby the oscillatory movement of said traveling element is intermittently magnified. y

18. In an amusement device of the character described, thel ycombination of a continuous internal track rotatable on a horizontal axis and disposed solely in a vertical plane, a traveling element mounted lon said.

track and occupying the low portion thereof when said track is at rest, said element being comprised of a plurality of units ment of said traveling element is intermittently magnified.

19. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination'of a continuous internal track rotatable on a horizontal axis and disposed solely in a vertical plane, a traveling element mounted on said track and occupying the low portion thereof when said track is at rest, said. element being comprised of a plurality of units coupled together in tandem in such manner as to have relative movement inl a vertical plane only whereby the movement of the track results in a limitedoscillatory movement Aof theV traveling element, and clutch means adapted to temporarily connect the traveling element to the track at intervals whereby the oscillatory movement of the traveling element is intermittently magnified.

Y20. In an amusement device, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable about a horizontal center and disposed in a vertical plane, and a train mounted to run on said trackV and comprised ofa vplurality of units, the center of said train being elevated a greater distance from the track l than the ends thereof, whereby compensation is provided for.V excess tilting of the end units of said train as the same ascends the track.

21. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable on a horizontal axis, and a train mounted on said track and to which an oscillatory movement is imparted by the movement of thetraek, said train being comprised of a plurality of load bearing platforms hinged closely together in tandem so as to be flexible on horizontal axes solely, and wheels supporting said platforms fromL the track.

22. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable on a horizontal axis, and a train mounted on said track and to Which an oscillatory movement is imparted by the movement of the track, said train being comprised of a plurality of load bearing platforms hinged closely together in tandem so as to be flexible on horizontal axes, and Wheels supporting said platforms from the track, the center1 of the train being supported higher from the track than the end thereof.

23. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable on a hori- 'Zontal axis and a train mounted on said track and to Which oscillatory movement is imparted by the movement of thei'track, said train being comprised of a load bearing platform supported by Wheels engagingtlie travel and a second load bearing platform hinged to the end of the first mentioned platform, one end of the second platform being supported by its attachment to the first named platform While the other end is supported by Wheels engaging the track.

24. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable on a horizontal axis and a train mounted on said track and to which oscillatory movement is imparted by the movement of the track, said train being comprised of a load bearing platform supported by Wheels engaging the track and a second load bearing platform hinged to the end of the first mentioned platform, one end of the second platform being supported by its attachment to the first named platform, While its other end is supported ata less distance from the track by Wheels.

25. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable on a horizontal axis and a train mounted on said track and to which oscillatory movement is imparted by the movement of the track, said train bei-ng comprised of aload-bearing platmareas form supported by Wheels engaging the track and a pair of load bearing platforms connected in tandem to the front and rear ends of the lirst named loadbearing platform, the inner ends of said second named platforms being coupled directly to and supported by the ends of the first named platform While the other ends of the second named platforms are supported by Wheels engaging the track.

26. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable on a horizontal axis and a train mounted on said track and to Which oscillatory movement is imparted by the movement ofthe track, said train being comprised of a load-bearing platform supported by Wheels engaging theV track and a pair of load bearing platforms connected in tandem to the front and rear ends of the first named load bearing platform, theI inner ends of said second named platforms being hingedly connected on horizontal axes to and supported by the ends of the first named platform while the other ends of the second named platforms are supported by Wheels engaging the track.

27. In an. amusement device of the character described, the combination of a continuous internal track rotatable on a horizontal axis and a train mounted on said track and to which oscillatory movement is imparted by the movement of the track, said train being comprised of a load-bearing platform supported by Wheels engaging the track and a pair of load bearing platforms connected in tandem to the front and rear ends of the first named load bearing platform, the inner ends of said second named platforms being coupled to and supported by the ends of the rst named platform While the other ends of the second named platforms Yare supported at a less distance from the track by Wheels engaging the latter.

Signed at Sandusky, O., this 19th day of May, 1924.

JOHN A. FISHER. 

